WASHINGTON — “You get a strange feeling when you’re about to leave a place, like you’ll not only miss the people you love but you’ll miss the person you are now at the time and place, because you’ll never be this way again.” — Azar Nafisi, in the book “Reading Lolita in Tehran”

I love adventure and surprises. I like change and experiencing new things. While I’m admittedly “young” by most standards of age and haven’t gone through many “stages of life,” I have noticed something about my response to life changes.

Despite my excitement for new experiences, I’m always sad to leave the place I am at that moment. No matter where I’m going or what I’m going to be doing, right before the change takes place I cling to my current life circumstances. (I’ve reasoned this is because I try to live each day to the fullest, thus typically loving life.)

I remember graduating high school, being so sad to leave that time of my life yet ecstatic about college. Then there was the semester I studied abroad at Harlaxton College in England. I’d looked forward to that semester from the day I received my acceptance letter to the University of Evansville. Yet, one of my last nights at UE before I left, I walked around the entire campus alone crying my eyes out—I was giving up an entire semester at that wonderful place.

Then I spent four brilliant, carefree months in Europe having the time of my life. Upon my return home, I had an internship in Nashville, Tenn., lined up, which I was thrilled about, but leaving England, the friends I’d met and that magically blithe life there wasn’t what I wanted.

In the Nashville area, I met some extraordinary people, and the lessons learned through them and the internship are invaluable. Again I faced another bittersweet departure. My reality-check summer led to a greater self awareness as I transitioned from my dreamland semester abroad to a fabulous real-life internship.

And back to school. Leaving Tennessee meant leaving my new friends, my small group and my church there. Though, it also meant reuniting with my college friends, finishing my last year at the university and moving into a house with three of my best friends.

Change is inevitable. In order to get to life’s next stage, you’ve got to move on from the current stage. And the next stage is oftentimes determined by the opportunities that arise.

I have accepted the opportunity to plant a church in Champaign, Ill., with a team of 11 people. The team consists of a couple who’s been in ministry for more than 10 years, a few people from Champaign, then some college friends moving from Texas and Kentucky, as well as a couple Daviess County gals Crystal Wininger and myself.

If you’re interested in details of the plant, why it’s in Champaign or why I joined the team, please e-mail me. I’ll be more than happy to talk to you about it either through e-mail or over coffee.

My last day at the Washington Times-Herald will be July 2, as I begin at my new job in Champaign on July 5. My purpose of being in Champaign is the church plant, Confluence Church, but I’ll be doing public relations and administrative work at Industrial Solutions, a rock surfacing company.

While I’ve loved my time writing for the T-H and returning to my home county, I think this opportunity is the entrance to my next stage of life. I’m definitely going to miss this time in life and am sad to see it ending, but I’m excited about what’s next and the opportunities that will follow. Opportunity precedes adventure.

Take advantage of opportunities, friends. Whether it’s an opportunity to go on a camping trip with the Boy Scout troop or go skydiving with a friend.

 It could be the opportunity to lead worship at your church or volunteer with a local nonprofit organization. Opportunities could come in the form of a new friend or a new job.

Opportunities come in all shapes and sizes and are really defined by the beholder’s eye.

Regardless of what the opportunity looks like, I challenge you to consider seizing it. We all just have one life, my friends, so live it up.

It’s been a privilege serving you, Daviess County.

n Emilee Shake is excited about a new adventure, but will miss creating the Todd Lancaster quote book, family cookouts and Cherry Ghost Coffee House. If you want to contact her after July 2, friend her on Facebook or e-mail her at emilee.shake@gmail.com.